Start with a hotel or port pickup in Reykjavik, and travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle to UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, known for its seismic activity.
Gaze at Thingvellir’s lava plains, and see the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates and site of Iceland’s first parliament, held here in 930 AD.
Continue through mountains to the Lake Laugarvatn region and visit the Geysir geothermal area. Wander around the thermal pools here, and watch the Strokkur geyser erupt before traveling to the Gullfoss waterfall. Take in the fall’s crashing waters before heading to Friðheimar, known for its agricultural greenhouses heated by the area’s geothermal activity.
Next, arrive at a riding stable, don your riding clothing, helmet, and boots, and hop on a beautiful Icelandic pony. Then, after a safety briefing, set off on a shared group, guided 2-hour ride through the countryside. Depending on your experience, you will follow one of two routes, both
covering around 4-6 miles (7-10 kilometers).
Beginners and less experienced riders will trace an easy and picturesque riding path along the Ingólfsfjall Mountain, while more experienced riders will follow a more challenging and scenic route along and through the River Gljúfulá. On either route, relax into your Icelandic horse’s distinctive ‘tölt’ gait and drink in the surrounding landscapes of emerald fields and craggy lava hills.
After your ride, leave your horse at the stables, and hop back inside your private vehicle to return to Reykjavik. On route, stop to take in the multicolored Kerio crater, and pass through the garden village of Hveragerði, where the area’s hot springs supply the energy for horticultural hothouses.
Your 10-hour trip ends in Reykjavik with a hotel or port drop-off.
